IBB, Abubakar, Aliyu trek to prayer ground

Dipo Laleye, Minna - 20.12.2007

TWO former military heads of state, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday trekked almost two kilometres to get to the Eid prayer ground in Minna to join thousands of other Muslim faithful for the special prayer to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

Governor Aliyu had led members of his cabinet to the uphill residences of the former leaders from where they drove in a long convoy to the prayer ground.

However, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) escort which led the convoy missed the traditional route the former leaders used to ply to the prayer ground and led them into the town.

By the time the convoy got to the F Layout junction, the route had been blocked by faithful who had thronged the prayer ground.

Other options explored by the convoy were also blocked, forcing the former leaders, the governor and his aides to alight from their vehicles and trek almost two kilometres to the prayer ground.

The prayer was also attended by the Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Farouq Bahago.

The two-rakkat prayer was led by the acting Chief Imam of Minna, Alhaji Halidu Maiyan Makarata, who also slaughtered the first ram to give the green light for others to make the sacrifice.